In the end, India got there, with 15 balls to spare. However, the chase wasn’t as comfortable as it seemed, especially after Tendulkar’s departure. Ravindra Jadeja helped ease the nerves with two boundaries in his first over in. Dhoni, who had hit just six runs in 25 balls, then hit three consecutive boundaries to finish things off.

India 124/4 | 33 overs | Dhoni 6*, Jadeja 8*

Sachin Tendulkar was run out with less than four overs to go as India scraped towards their target. It was a superb effort from David Warner who ran in from point and flew into the stumps as Tendulkar and MS Dhoni contemplated a single. India need nine runs in three overs.

India 105/3 | 28 overs | Tendulkar 15*, Dhoni 1*

Virat Kohli threw away his wicket with a poor shot as India closed in on a victory in the third Test. Kohli tried to flick Peter Siddle to mid-wicket, but failed to spot Phil Hughes at short mid-wicket who took a good catch. MS Dhoni walked in with India needing a further 30 runs in 56 balls.

India 98/2 | 25 overs | Kohli 29*, Tendulkar 14*

Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are watchfully taking India towards their target with minimum risks. Tendulkar played a couple of shots, including a paddle sweep and a mistimed hit to the long-off fence, in his first 10 balls he faced that had the spectators gasp in fear, but after that the duo patiently went about their innings.

India 74/2 | 19 overs | Kohli 17*, Tendulkar 4*

India have lost both their openers after Nathan Lyon got Cheteshwar Pujara (28) leg before wicket. Pujara was undone by the lack of bounce of the short-pitched delivery as he tried to whack it down to deep square leg. Sachin Tendulkar is the new batsman at No 4.

India 48/1 | 12 overs | Pujara 17*, Kohli 4*

Xavier Doherty was benefitted by India’s attacking intent as Murali Vijay (26) got himself stumped off the left-arm spinner after trying to charge down and whack the ball down extra cover. Virat Kohli is the new batsman in at No 3.

India 30/0 | 7 overs | Vijay 19*, Pujara 10*(TEA – DAY 5)

India took tea after wiping off 30 runs from their chase of 133 in the third Test at Mohali. Murali Vijay and his stand-in opening partner Cheteshwar Pujara got India off to a solid start. Vijay, known for his languid style of play in Tests, has shown the attacking intent and has already hit four boundaries in his 19. Pujara has also hit two fours in his 10 not out and India look good to notch a memorable win.

Ravindra Jadeja got his third wicket of the innings as India finally managed to bowl out Australia for 223 in the second session of Day Five. Mitchell Starc (35) was the last man to fall after playing out 18.1 overs with No 11 Xavier Dhoherty. The duo added 44 runs to frustrate the hosts and set a 133-run target in a minimum of 27 overs.

Australia 211/9 | 85 overs | Starc 27*, Doherty 14*

Mitchell Starc and Xavier Doherty frustrated the Indians as they built a defiant last-wicket partnership. With the top five Indian bowlers unable to break through, MS Dhoni even tossed the ball to Sachin Tendulkar to bowl his tweakers for a couple of overs. The man with the golden arm got a few close calls, but could not dislodge the two tail-enders.

Australia 192/9 | 77 overs | Starc 20*, Doherty 4*

Ravichandran Ashwin’s carom ball got rid of Brad Haddin (30) after lunch as India closed in on bowling Australia out. The leg-spinner’s quick leg-break pitched on middle-and-leg, as Haddin failed to pick the variation and was trapped plumb in front. Xavier Doherty is the last man in.

Meanwhile, news has come in that Shikhar Dhawan will not bat for India with an injured hand.

Australia 170/8 | 67 overs | Haddin 23*, Starc 9*(LUNCH – DAY 5)

Brad Haddin and Mitchell Starc played out a gritty last 45 minutes of the first session to take Australia into lunch without further damage. Australia took lunch at 170 for eight and are 79 runs ahead of India at this stage. India will hope to keep the visitors under 150 in the second session.

Ravindra Jadeja picked up his second wicket of the innings, that of Moises Henriques (2). This time, there was no element of doubt in the dismissal, which was completed with a superb diving caught-and-bowled. Jadeja’s length ball on the off-stump line was sent flying to the left of the Saurashtra all-rounder by Henriques, where the former took a superb catch with both hands.

Meanwhile, new batsman Peter Siddle launched a counter-attack of his own on the Indian spinners. However, after hitting a four and a six, Siddle misjudged the line of Ojha’s leg-spinner that took his off-stump. India can wrap this match up in this session itself if Shikhar Dhawan is up for it.

Australia 124/6 | 50 overs | Haddin 1*, Henriques 0*

Phil Hughes, after a defiant knock of 69, was undone by an erroneous decision by umpire Aleem Dar. Ravichandran Ashwin’s delivery was clearly missing leg-stump, but the umpire upheld the appeal from the Indians and sent Hughes packing. Hughes was understandably dejected as he walked back. How long will India take to wrap up the innings now?

Australia 119/5 | 46 overs | Hughes 65*, Haddin 0*

Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Michael Clarke (18) for the fifth time in this series as Australia were left reeling at 119 for five. It was a Saurashtra combination that sent Clarke back to the pavilion. The Australian captain tried to flick Jadeja’s straightner off his pads, but found the inside edge that was snapped up by Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg. Phil Hughes is being left to wage a lone battle here.

Australia 117/4 | 40 overs | Hughes 63*, Clarke 18*

The Australian batsmen are living on the edge with MS Dhoni bombarding them with spin from both ends. Michael Clarke is being put up against Ravindra Jadeja, who has got the Australian captain out on more than one occasion in this series. Phil Hughes, meanwhile, is negotiating the spinners with his usual octopus shuffling.

Australia 89/4 | 29 overs | Hughes 53*, Clarke 0*

Pragyan Ojha dismissed nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (18) within the first 20 minutes of Day Five. Ojha’s delivery from around the wicket pitched on middle and spun enough to find the faintest of edges off Lyon’s bat, as MS Dhoni snapped it up behind the sticks.

Michale Clarke, who did not come in on Day Four due to a stiff back then put aside all conjecture regarding his fitness by walking out at No 6. If there ever was a time when Australia needed Clarke the most, it is now.

Australia 64/3 | 15 over | Hughes 43*, Lyon 4*(STUMPS – DAY 4)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar got three wickets to his name as he bowled a ripper through Steven Smith’s defence. The ball drifted in towards the batsman and Smith understandably played for the inswinger. But the ball straightened after pitching and sent the off-stump on a hike. Australia in trouble here, as nightwatchman Nathan Lyon walks in.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar took his second wicket of the innings after changing ends. Ed Cowan (8) was the victim and was trapped in front by the youngster from Uttar Pradesh. Steven Smith has come in at No 4, which means Michael Clarke does not want to bat today. The Australian captain was suffering from a stiff back while fielding and had taken a couple of breaks in the middle.

Australia 2/1 | 1 over | Cowan 0*, Hughes 0*

Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Australian opener David Warner in the first over of the visitors’ second innings. It was a wicket Australia could have avoided as Warner reached out to slash a widish delivery, but only found the edge that was pouched by MS Dhoni.

INDIA 1st Innings

India 499 | 132.1 overs | Kohli 67*

In the end, the Indian lower order did not last long alongside Virat Kohli as a Peter Siddle-inspired Australian attack bowled out India for 499 after tea. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the first to go after the break. Moises Henriques bowled a delivery that rose to the rib-cage as Bhuvneshwar tried to fend, but decided to move out at the last minute. The ball clipped the gloves and Brad Haddin took an easy catch behind the stumps.

Siddle then came in and cleaned up the Indian innings. Ishant Sharma tried to poke at a delivery outside off, but found the edge that was gloved up by Haddin again. Pragyan Ojha then fell in Siddle’s next over as the Australian pacer bowled through the former’s defence.

Australia trail India by 91 runs and have 21 overs to bat out on Day Four.

India 479/7 | 125 overs | Kohli 50*, Bhuvneshwar 17*(TEA – DAY 4)

Virat Kohli struck a fine half-century under pressure to take India into tea at 479 for seven after a flurry of wickets. Kohli shared a vital unbeaten 48-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar to stem the leak after Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle made their way through the Indian top and middle after lunch. India now lead by 71 runs.

Australia’s prowess with the second new ball continued as Peter Siddle got into the action, finding Ravindra Jadeja’s (4) edge that was easily pocketed by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Virat Kohli has been left stranded in the middle and needs someone to stick around with him. Ravichandran Ashwin would seem the right man.

As it turned out, he wasn’t, as Siddle found his edge too to record a similar dismissal. India have now lost four wickets for 47 runs after lunch, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar walks out to the middle.

India 416/5 | 102 overs | Kohli 17*, Jadeja 0*

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc struck twice in an over with the second new ball after lunch to dismiss centurion Murali Vijay and the dangerous Indian captain MS Dhoni. Earlier, Murali Vijay notched up his second score of 150-plus in the series with a sneaky late dab past the slips off part-timer Steven Smith. However, in the very next over, the Chennai batsman misjudged the line of an incoming delivery from Mitchell Starc and was trapped in front. Vijay fell for 153.

MS Dhoni (0) was then to fall in the same over after charging down to the left-armer trying to negate the inswing and flick him off the legs. But Dhoni missed as the ball crashed into his feet plumb i front.

Can Australia get back into the match now?

India 384/3 | 94.1 overs | Vijay 142*(LUNCH – DAY 4)

Steven Smith got the big wicket of Sachin Tendulkar (37) at the stroke of lunch as India went into the break at 384 for three, trailing Australia by just 24 runs. The wicket would mean that the spoils of the session were shared by the two teams with 101 runs being scored at the loss of three wickets. However, India still hold an overall advantage.

Murali Vijay and Sachin Tendulkar took India to within 50 runs of Australia’s first-innings total of 408. Their partnership stands at 71 runs and parity seems to have been restored after an early morning wobble.

India 339/2 | 77 overs | Vijay 116*, Tendulkar 20*

Murali VIjay and Sachin Tendulkar steadied India’s innings after losing two quick wickets on Day Four. At the first drinks break of the day, the duo’s partnership reads 47 runs and India now trail by just 69 runs. Tendulkar has settled in after initially struggling a bit against Nathan Lyon. The 39-year-old has struck two crisp boundaries, along with a six off Lyon, in his 20 and his balance while shaping up to play the strokes looks picture perfect. Vijay, meanwhile, has shown no signs of change after losing Dhawan early and is continuing to play his natural, patient game.

India 323/2 | 73 overs | Vijay 112*, Tendulkar 8*

India’s run-rate has slightly dropped following Shikhar Dhawan’s departure. From what was more than five runs an over on Day Three, it has dropped to below 4.5 runs an over. The Australian bowlers, Peter Siddle in particular, are continuing to probe for more breakthroughs. Siddle is bowling his heart out, hitting the deck hard and looking for the smallest of errors from the batsmen to expolit. The flat pitch isn’t helping at all, but Siddle looks relentless. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar got his first boundary with a heave over wide long-on off Nathan Lyon.

India 304/2 | 66 overs | Vijay 100*, Tendulkar 1*

Murali Vijay scored his second consecutive hundred against Australia on Day Four by lofting Nathan Lyon to the wide long-on fence. This is also his third hundred in a 14-Test career, all of which have come against Australia. Vijay had scored a match-winning century in the second Test at Hyderabad.

India 292/2 | 63 overs | Vijay 89*, Tendulkar 0*

India lost a second early wicket on Day Four after Peter Siddle trapped Cheteshwar Pujara in front. The Saurashtra batsman looked disappointed as he walked back to the pavilion and the replays showed why. The ball had taken the inside edge before hitting the pad. Australia would not mind a little bit of luck after a disastrous outing with the ball on Day Three.

India 289/1 | 60 overs | Vijay 87*, Pujara 0*

Debutant Test centurion Shikhar Dhawan fell early on Day Four to spinner Nathan Lyon. Dhawan went for a front-foot defence and jabbed at Lyon’s delivery around the wicket, and the edge went straight to Ed Cowan at silly point. The wicket brought an end to a stellar knock of 187 on Test debut and also broke the third-highest opening stand for India.

India 283/0 | 58 overs | Dhawan 185*, Vijay 83*(STUMPS – DAY 3)

Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay batted out their second session of the day as India took stumps at 283 for no loss. The hosts now trail Australia by 125 runs and the way these two are going, the deficit should get wiped out in the first session of Day Four.

The Australian bowlers seem to be having no clue as to how to contain Shikhar Dhawan. The 27-year-old carried on where he left off at tea and clobbered six boundaries in the first hour after the break. Dhawan also surpassed Gundappa Viswanath’s 137, which was the highest score by an Indian on debut.

India156/0 | 29 overs | Dhawan 106*, Vijay 42*(TEA – DAY 3)

Shikhar Dhawan became the fastest Test debut centurion ever when he notched up his ton in 85 deliveries on Day Three. What was even more amazing was that the hundred had come effectively in just one session, since he was not out on nought at lunch. India took tea in firm control of proceedings at 156 for no loss, with Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay looking immovable from the crease. The hosts still trail Australia by 252 runs, but with the rate these two are going at, it does seem as if the deficit would be wiped out early on Day Four.

India134/0 | 25 overs | Dhawan 91*, Vijay 36*

Shikhar Dhawan smashed four boundaries to Xavier Doherty in the 23rd over. In the last seven overs, Dhawan has scored 38 runs. Dhawan is unbeaten on 91 runs from 77 balls and Vijay is unbeaten on 36 runs from 73 balls.

India 83/0 | 18 overs | Dhawan 53*, Vijay 29*

Shikhar Dhawan clobbered 12 boundaries to bring up his maiden half-century in Test cricket, during the third day’s play at Mohali. Dhawan brought up his half-century from only 51 balls, reaching 54 not out.

India 23/0 | 8 overs

Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay provided India a cautious start as they reached 23 for no loss after eight overs. Dhawan waa batting on 15, while Vijay reached eight not out. India trail by a further 385 runs.

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings

Australia 408 | 141.5 overs

Xavier Doherty was trapped in front of the wickets by Ravichandran Ashwin as Australia were bowled out for 408 in their first innings of the third Test at Mohali on Saturday.

Australia 399/9 | 138.5 overs | Lyon 5*

Mitchell Starc missed out on a brilliant century when he was caught behind the wickets by MS Dhoni off Ishant Sharma for 99. Starc slammed 14 boundaries during his stay, which took Australia to a big total in the first innings.

Australia 391/8 | 136 overs | Starc 91*, Lyon 5

Mitchell Starc’s resistance frustrated India as the left-handed tail-ender batsman reached 91 not out from 132 balls and 13 boundaries to lead Austraila’s fightback on Day Three. Australia were 391 for eight with Starc at the crease, accompanied by Nathan Lyon on five.

Australia 348/8 | 124.1 overs | Starc 56*

Pragyan Ojha provided India a much-needed breakthrough when he dismissed Steve Smith for 92. Smith came forward to defend a delivery off Ojha, but was beaten by the turn and skipper MS Dhoni was sharp enough to catch the Aussie all-rounder out of his crease.

Australia 301/7 | 110 overs | Smith 72*, Starc 34*

Australia began on a positive note on Day Three, going past the 300-run mark in the 110th over of their first essay. Both Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc rotated the strike on regular intervals and kept picking boundaries, denying the Indians any chance to make a breakthrough.

Australia 273/7 | 104 overs | Smith 58*, Starc 20*(STUMPS – DAY 2)

India will go into stumps after an absorbing day of cricket, one in which they bowled 104 overs, the happier team after restricting Australia to 273 for seven at stumps on Day Two of the third Test. Steven Smith

Australia 255/7 | 99 overs | Smith 57*, Starc 3*

Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Peter Siddle to further dent Australia. Peter Siddle was trapped in front by the left-armer to leave Australia reeling at 251 for seven. Steven Smith is the only recognised batsman left now for the Aussies.

Australia 244/6 | 93.3 overs | Smith 49*, Siddle 0*

Ishant Sharma picked up two wickets in an over to dismiss Brad Haddin and Moises Henriques as India seized control of proceedings on Day Two. Wicketkeeper-batsman Haddin was the first to go as he dragged a good-length ball lining outside off onto his stumps. Henriques, at No 7, could last just two balls as Ishant got the ball to reverse swing into the batsman and bowl through the gates.

Australia 237/4 | 90 overs | Smith 45*, Haddin 18*

Australian all-rounder Steven Smith took the attack to the Indians and launched a fightback alongside Brad Haddin as the duo put on 39 runs in 12 overs. Australia need a big partnership if they are to get back into this game and Smith would want to carry on after getting a chance to feature in this match following the Homeworkgate scandal.

Australia 205/4 | 79 overs | Smith 28*, Haddin 6*

Ravichandran Ashwin got rid of the well set Ed Cowan (86) in the post-tea session to get a well-deserved wicket. Ashwin had toiled all through the day as Ravindra Jadeja and Pragyan Ojha reaped the rewards. But the Chennai boy got the all-important breakthrough as he foiled Cowan’s bid for a first hundred of the series. Ashwin’s full-pitched delivery around middle and off got the edge and flew to first slip, where Kohli finally latched on to a catch.

Australia 180/3 | 72 overs | Cowan 76*, Smith 19*(TEA – DAY 2)

Australia took tea at 180 for three with Ed Cowan and Steven Smith sharing a small, defiant 29-run partnership. India have done well here to come back into this game after a fruitless first session. Their bowlers will look to pick up at least a couple more wickets before the end of the day’s play.

Pragyan Ojha, who was being pushed to the sidelines by Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, finally got into the thick of things as he scalped the struggling Phil Hughes (2). Bowling around the wicket, Ojha’s delivery spun away down the leg side as Hughes tried to work it towards fine-leg. However, he could only find a faint edge as MS Dhoni, sharp as ever, pounced on it to take the catch. Australia have lost three wickets in the last 14 overs for just 12 runs.

Australia 139/2 | 49 overs | Cowan 56*, Hughes 0*

India got the much-required breakthrough(s) after a century stand from the Australian openers. It was part-timer Ravindra Jadeja who did the damage as he picked up two in two. FIrst to go was David Warner (71), who was looking good for a big score. Jadeja, bowling around the wicket to the left-hander, found the bat-pad that looped up into the air long enough for wicketkeeper MS Dhoni to run in from behind the stumps to take the catch.

Skipper Michael Clarke promoted himself up the order and came in at No 3 for only the second time in his Test career. The experiment did not provide the required result as he was stumped first ball off Jadeja’s bowling. Can India seize the initiative in the second session?

Australia 109/0 | 36 overs | Warner 54*, Cowan 43*(LUNCH – DAY 2)

Australia took lunch firmly in control of proceedings, at 109 for no loss with David Warner notching up his second fifty of the tour. Ed Cowan is seven runs short of what would be his first half-century of the series and the two openers are looking good to build a big partnership. The Indian bowlers will need some inspiration after a fruitless first session on a pitch that is refusing to provide any help.

India are finally down to spin from both ends with Pragyan Ojha joining Ravichandran Ashwin from the either ends. However, the two Australian batsmen are refusing to budge from the crease. Ed Cowan has picked up his rate in the last four-five overs and has almost caught up with David Warner’s score.

Australia 48/0 | 17 overs | Warner 32*, Cowan 13*

David Warner and Ed Cowan are making good use of the conditions and have pushed Australia off to a good start in their first innings. MS Dhoni has used just one of his spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin, so far, who troubled the two openers a bit. The pace bowlers are looking hapless on this pitch which is as flat as a pancake.

Australia 22/0 | 7 overs | Warner 15*, Cowan 7*

Australia are off to a good start against India in the third Test with David Warner at his usual aggressive best. Making good use of the pitch that looks good for batting early on, Warner was off and running in the first over itself, hitting two crisp boundaries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Speaking of the pitch, it looks flat with a little bit of grass cover, and the seamers don’t seem to be getting any early movement. Australia will be looking to get a good first-innings score.

For India, Shikhar Dhawan will be making his Test debut. He received his Test cap from batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

On Day One,rainfall accompanied by strong winds, after fresh snowfall occurred in parts of Himachal Pradesh, delayed the start of the match at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in the morning.

After a wait of more than three hours, there was no sign of rains abating, prompting the umpires to call off the day’s play. The skies were overcast with thick, dark clouds.